Page:The family kitchen gardener - containing plain and accurate descriptions of all the different species and varieties of culinary vegetables (IA familykitchengar56buis).pdf/195

 ing fine plants is by the single eye. This is the favorite mode of propagating plants for fruiting. Early in February or March we cut the shoots of the preceding year’s wood into eyes, leaving about an inch on each side of the eye, plant these with their eyes uppermost into pots, and place them under glass, either in cold or hot frames prepared for the purpose, or in the window of a warm room, where they will be carefully watered. These eyes may easily be made to grow ten or twelve feet the first season, by constant repotting and watering with liquid manure. Plants grown by this method are decidedly the best rooted, forming more capillary fibres, consequently more nutritious support to the vine is absorbed; they form shorter joints, and are capable of producing a greater quantity of fruit. We have seen a plant of the Black Hamburg, only eighteen months from the eye, have nine bunches, weighing about eight pounds.

.—If Grape vines have been cultivated in pots, they may be transplanted at any period of the year, though we give preference to the months of October, November, March or April. Admitting the ground is fully prepared, dig out a place for the reception of the roots, eighteen inches deep, and as wide as the roots require, to lay them, at their full length, without bending or twisting in any manner. If any of them are broken or diseased, cut them off. Keep the roots near the surface, distributing among them fine earth; give each three or four gallons of water, allow it to subside, when fill up with earth and press it down gently with the foot. In such a house as we have figured, one plant to each sash will be enough. The back of the house may be planted with Figs, which should be covered up in Winter, in the same manner as the vines. It is absolutely necessary for the health of the vine that it should be planted where the sun will fully shine upon it during some hours of the day. We have often observed small vines planted in front of the house, where they are